Reality TV stars to be at Fremont student fundraiser

Christi Lukasiak and her dancing daughter, Chloe, make a guest appearance at the Ellis School later this month.

FREMONT - A student council fundraiser will be getting a boost from some star power when "Dance Mom" Christi Lukasiak and her dancing daughter, Chloe, make a guest appearance at the Ellis School later this month.

The two stars from the popular Lifetime reality series "Dance Moms" will make a stop at the school's gymnasium on Saturday, April 20, to help raise money to purchase a water filling station water cooler for the school.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $40, with $15 from each ticket sold going to the school for the new water cooler, which will replace the school's existing water vending machine, according to Jodie Antoine, school librarian and student council advisor.

Now in its third season, "Dance Moms" follows the lives of competitive young dancers and their sometimes outspoken moms from the Abby Lee Dance Company in Pennsylvania.

Fans of the show are excited about the arrival of Chloe and her mom.

"The kids have been talking about it in class, online and face-to-face. Everyone keeps asking me if the dance moms are really coming to Ellis' and I have to say that they are," Antoine said.

The student council hopes to raise the $1,000 needed to buy the new water cooler before the eighth-graders head off to high school.

Antoine said the school's water vending machine costs a lot to run, doesn't run efficiently and wastes plastic water bottles.

Bringing stars from "Dance Moms" to the school is an idea that started with seventh-grader Kylie Grenier.

Kylie, a member of the school's student council, said she e-mailed Lukasiak's agent about the idea.

"I never thought that this would turn into anything, but I figured I might just give it shot. I'm so glad I did," she said.

Kylie brought the idea to Antoine and asked if she would look into it further. Antoine then contacted the booking agent and was able to make arrangements for the appearance, which is open to the public, and not just Fremont residents.